President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Geena Rocero, George Takei, and more send empowering messages to the LGBTQ community during Pride Live’s “Stonewall Day,” supported by GLAAD

On Friday, Pride Live held its third annual Stonewall Day, a global campaign to elevate awareness and support for the Stonewall legacy and the continuing fight for full LGBTQ equality. This year’s event was hosted by transgender model and advocate Geena Rocero and included segments on #BlackLivesMatter and the dangerous rise of violence facing trans women, especially Black trans women. Pride Live’s Stonewall Day is available on Logo’s YouTube and Facebook pages. GLAAD returned for the second consecutive year to lead all press and media outreach for Stonewall Day. 

In partnership with WarnerMedia, Nasdaq, and Pride Media, and with support from GLAAD, Stonewall Day raised critical funds for four LGBTQ organizations severely affected by COVID-19: Trans LifeLife, Brave Space Alliance, The Ally Coalition, and TransLatin@Coalition. During the event, Pride Live announced that philanthropists Tim Gill and Scott Miller of the Gill Foundation contributed $50,000 to Stonewall Day. Donations can be made by texting REBEL to 243725. Stonewall Day Ambassador Christian Siriano created the official event t-shirt this year with proceeds going to Pride Live Stonewall Day.

To open Stonewall Day, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden delivered a surprise message to the LGBTQ community. In their message, the two responded to the Supreme Court’s historic ruling last week to protect LGBTQ workers against discrimination. They also remembered transgender icons Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera and called attention to violence and discrimination facing transgender people, especially Black transgender women.

Vice President Biden stated: “The fight is far from over and the path ahead is going to be anything but easy. These fights require leadership. Wherever injustice exists, leaders across the world must respond with action. I assure you that America once again will be the beacon of hope for LGBTQ people, here at home and throughout the world.”  

During the event, President Barack Obama also addressed the LGBTQ community: “Whether we’re fighting to protect a patient from discrimination in the healthcare system, or to combat violence against the LGBTQ community, particularly trans women of color, or to link arms with the causes of racial and justice that have been sweeping the country, I hope you know that your voice can make an enormous difference. I hope you all understand what Edie Windsor and Harvey Milk and Bayard Rustin all knew: that progress doesn’t happen on its own. It happens because we stand up, speak out, and demand change. That’s what America has always been about. So keep on protesting peacefully and safely, whether that’s in your home, on social media, or out in the streets. Make sure you’re registered to vote.”

Other notables, including Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Christian Siriano, and George Takei, sent powerful video messages to the LGBTQ community during #StonewallDay. Check out the videos below:

The livestream event premiered earlier today on Logo’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Trans model and advocate Geena Rocero, Stonewall Day’s National Chair, hosted Pride Live’s Stonewall Day broadcast live at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.

Guests and performers included Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneres, Cynthia Erivo, Kesha, Hayley Kiyoko, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Christian Siriano, George Takei, as well as Jonny Beauchamp, Dustin Lance Black, Bob the Drag Queen, Sir Richard Branson, Blossom C. Brown, Shea Diamond, Luke Evans, Valerie Jarrett, Stella Maxwell, Imara Jones, Bethany C. Meyers, Eureka O’Hara, Valentina Sampaio, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Josephine Skriver, Kellen Stancil, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Jacob Tobia, Nico Tortorella, Justin Tranter, Alok Vaid-Menon, Chely Wright, Conchita WURST, as well as Pride Live Board President Dr. Yvette C. Burton.

“From Marsha P. Johnson’s revolution at Stonewall, to the recent murders of Dominique Fells and Riah Milton, the protection of trans people of color continues to be the litmus test of freedom and equal opportunities.  Policies such as the Trump administration’s reversed protections for transgender people in the U.S. health care system, adds the disproportionate effect of fatal violence, impacted by the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia across communities and families,” added Dr. Burton.

Launched in 2018, Stonewall Day is a national day of awareness to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Pride Media is the lead LGBTQ Media partner for Stonewall Day. 

Organizations that will receive funds from Stonewall Day 2020 include:

Ally Coalition: The Ally Coalition provides critical support for grassroots non-profit organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of LGBTQ Youth.

Brave Space Alliance: Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ individuals on the South and West sides of the city.

TransLatina Coalition: Since its inception The TransLatina Coalition has done advocacy work across the US to ensure the voices of Trans Latins are heard. The TransLatina Coalition’s sole purpose is to address the unique and specific challenges and needs of Trans Latinas who live in the United States.

Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Due to #COVID19, their peer-support Hotline and Microgrants are particularly needed as trans people disproportionately face isolation and economic insecurity.

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